"Good to know. I'm ordering you to pack you bag and move out as soon as Zero's training ends. You have to look for a new job and quit your work as the Head Butler within fifteen days." Qi Ying might look tired but her words were very clear to hear.
However, for the first time Noel thought that he heard wrong. He couldn't help but ask, "Pardon?"
He was utterly speechless, completely dumbfounded. He was working for decades. He never made a single mistake and worked diligently. He never took days off, until recently. However, the new Mistress of the Mu Household seemed to be mad at him for some reason and was trying to fire him unjustly.
Qi Ying cleared the misunderstanding. "It's not the way you think it is. You have been working here for two generations from young age. Mu Family is very grateful to you. However, we have been observing that you don't spend so much time for yourself. You keep working. I know that it's because you love working, but we are not heartless enough to take all your youth and middle age. Go out there, do something, have some fun. You have a life and you cannot spend it only working. Enjoy the world with all you have left. That's why I want you to go to early retirement. You can use our reference wherever you want. If you want we can look for a proper job for you, but judging by your character you won't take that. But if you ever need shelter, you have us."
Noel took quite some time to stomach her words. His lips trembled when he asked, "Is there any chance for me to live here?"
Qi Ying replied, "You can live in the town with other servants. Since you won't be working here, you cannot live in the castle."
Noel was still having a hard time to believe everything.
Qi Ying continued, "Remember that it's an early retirement for you to have a meaningful life, not that you made any mistakes."
Noel spoke in a mild tone, "…I understand."
Qi Ying pushed a file towards him. "Here, there are some materials for you. I got an information about you looking for a flat. I have a good suggestion for you. Please check it. If you like the apartment, the Mu Family will personally give it to you as a present. Though it's nothing compare to what you have done for the Mu Family, we still wanted to give it to you. I hope you don't mind."
Noel opened the folder an read the documents. His frowned while reading. Feeling suspicious, he turned over the page and saw some photos. He was dumbstruck.
"This is…" He wasn't sure what to say.
Qi Ying, "Do you like it? Do you have any complaints?"
"…I like it. I don't have any problem." Noel spoke but his mind was somewhere else as if he was dreaming.
Qi Ying smiled lightly. "Excellent! The interior designer will meet you in the apartment tomorrow afternoon. Leave the expenses to the Mu Family. You can go now."
"…Yes, Madam Mu. Good night." Noel bowed.
"Good night to you too." Qi Ying said. After he left the room, she called Mu Lan.
Mu Lan answered the call. "How did everything go?"
"It went smoothly. I memorized the script you gave me and said the exact same thing. He didn't doubt me. He seemed shocked and puzzled though. He must be sad." Qi Ying felt bad for him.
Mu Lan brushed it off. "Don't worry about it. To get something, you have to lose something. This is the rule of the world. Xiao Ying, go to sleep. We have works to do tomorrow. We need to gather strength."
"Alright then. Sweet dreams." Qi Ying yawned.
"Sweet dreams!" Mu Lan hung up. After that, she rubbed her temples. She was suffering from a headache.
Beside her, Mu Liang was sitting silently, deep in thought.
She hugged him and said in a spoiled tone, "What are you thinking so much? I really did nothing wrong."
In the end, Mu Liang opened his mouth to say, "The problem is mother doesn't have any romantic affection for him. Do you think it will be alright?"
Mu Lan sat on his lap and told him, "You don't understand women. Those vulnerable women who suffered a lot in the past, when they find out that they have a hero who saves them secretly because he is deeply in love with them, they are destined to fall for that man. And Noel is a gentleman. He will never make the first move. The only thing he needs a little push from my dearest mother-in-law."
"And how are you going to manage mother?" Mu Liang asked.
Mu Lan gave him a sweet smile. "Certainly, I need my husband for that."
Only then Mu Liang understood that he fell on her trap. He sighed aloud. In his heart, he couldn't help but praise his wifey.
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The next morning, Mu Lan woke up earlier and sneaked off from the bedroom after changing her pajamas. Then, she went out for a morning walk. After that, she freshened up and went to a restaurant near Jing Sheng's apartment. She was waiting to follow Jing Sheng from here.
She ordered her breakfast and took a paper and a pen and began to calculate something. She was deep in thought, at that time, she was distracted by the waiter who served the food.
Mu Lan took a piece of sausage in her mouth and chews while doing her calculation.
However, she was interrupted again. This time, it was not the waiter but Li Shen.
He was tired after staying in the hospital for two nights. After Hua Mei regained her consciousness, she kept crying and screaming. For an actress, broken nose was a curse. As her husband, he had to deal with her whenever she lost control of her emotion. In the morning, to have breakfast, he came to the nearest restaurant. He came to the restaurant and by coincidence, he saw Mu Lan who was sitting alone in the corner.